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The origins of the Acadian Landry family are shrouded in mystery. Some say they came originally
from LaChaussee, France, but while there were numerous Landry's in that area in the 17th
century, there is no certainty that the Landry's that eventually settled in Acadia came from there.
Most researchers agree, however, that almost all Acadian Landry's can be traced to one of two
individuals: Rene (L'Aine) Landry (the elder) and Rene (Le Jeunne) Landry (the younger). Rene
the Elder was born in 1618 and arrived in Acadia around 1640. Rene the Younger was born in
1634 and arrived sometime around 1659.
Why the Renes originally came to Acadia is, again, largely unknown. Some researchers believe
that they were both originally from La Vetrouze, near Mortagne-au-Perche, France. A group of
10 Landry's were persuaded to come to Acadia by Marguerite Landry, daughter of Jean-Claude, and her
husband Robert Martin, in 1640. They had previous settled in Acadia for several years.
These 10 Landry's were Jean-Claude and children from his first marriage, twins Rene and Antoinette
(22 years old), and Perrine (29) with her husband Jacques Joffriau. Also included were
Jean-Claude's second wife, Marie Sale, three children from her first marriage to Martin Aucoin
(Michelle, Francois, and Jeanne Aucoin), and their young son Rene. This group is believed
to have settled near the river Saint-John in the Cape Sable area. They later moved to Port
Royal.
It is the contention that both of the Acadian Rene Landry's were sons of Jean-Claude Landry;
Rene the Elder, his son from his first marriage, and Rene the Younger, son from his second
marriage. While Jean-Claude Landry died in France in 1671, Marie Sale is found in Acadian
records as living close to the vicinity of Rene the Younger.
Of course, most of this is supposition. Nobody is certain whether or not the two Rene's are
even related, let alone who their parents were. Most researchers rebut this theory of
Jean-Claude Landry being both of the Rene's father. They state that, in the censuses of
1671 and 1676, Marie is listed as "Marie Salle, widow of Jean Claude." Nowhere is the
name Landry mentioned. It is thought that Jean Claude was, in fact, a Micmac Indian,
and he is mentioned as such in other censuses. Many of his descendants still live
in Nova Scotia.
Rene L'Jeunne
What is known is that Rene the Younger (Le Jeunne) was born in about 1634 in France
and migrated to Acadia. He married Marie Bernard in 1659. Marie was born about 1645,
probably in Beauvoir-Sur-Mer, France. Rene and Marie settled in an outlying region of
Port Royal and raised eight sons and seven daughters. Rene died between 1690 and 1693
in Port Royal. Marie lived until 1719, when she, too, died in Port Royal.
All of their sons, save one (Charles) left Port Royal and settled near Grand Pre in
the Minas Basin. Among those sons were Antoine Landry and Abraham Landry. From
these two brothers came two of my Landry ancestors: Marie Eleonore Landry, descending
from Antoine, and Modest Marie Landry, descending from Abraham.
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